Multimedia input and control apparatus and method for multimedia communications

Abstract

An apparatus (300, 400) and method are provided for multimedia communications, such as for video conferencing. One of the embodiments of the apparatus for multimedia input and control (300) includes a video input (310) to produce an input video signal; an audio input (320) to produce an input audio signal; a radio frequency modulator (350); a data/control input (330) to produce an input data signal; and a processor arrangement (360) responsive when operably coupled, through a set of program instructions, to produce a first processor signal to the radio frequency modulator to combine the input video signal with the input audio signal to form a composite audio/video signal, and the processor arrangement (360) further responsive to modulate the input data signal to form a modulated input data signal and produce a second processor signal to the radio frequency modulator to combine the input video signal with the modulated input data signal to form a combined video/data signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for multimedia input and control, the apparatus comprising: a video input to produce an input video signal;   an audio input to produce an input audio signal;   a radio frequency modulator coupled to the video input and the audio input;   a data/control input to produce an input data signal; and   a processor arrangement coupled to the video input, to the audio input, to the radio frequency modulator, and to the data/control input, the processor arrangement responsive when operably coupled, through a set of program instructions, to produce a first processor signal to the radio frequency modulator to combine the input video signal with the input audio signal to form a composite audio/video signal, the processor arrangement further responsive to modulate the input data signal to form a modulated input data signal and produce a second processor signal to the radio frequency modulator to combine the input video signal with the modulated input data signal to form a combined video/data signal.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a data/control output coupled to the processor arrangement, the data/control output to produce an output data signal. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the data/control output is an infrared transmitter. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the output data signal is a video display power on signal. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the output data signal is a video display power off signal. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the output data signal is a command signal to an infrared controllable device. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the output data signal is a video display channel selection signal. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the output data signal is a video display volume control signal. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor arrangement is further responsive to a plurality of control signals. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the processor arrangement is responsive to adjust a transmit frequency of the radio frequency modulator in response to a first control signal of the plurality of control signals. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the processor arrangement is responsive to adjust a transmit power level of the radio frequency modulator in response to a second control signal of the plurality of control signals. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the processor arrangement is responsive to produce an off hook signal in response to a third control signal of the plurality of control signals. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the video input is a video camera. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audio input is a microphone. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data control input is an infrared receiver. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input data signal is FSK modulated. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the modulated input data signal is inserted into an audio subcarrier portion of the input video signal to form the combined video/data signal. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor arrangement is further responsive to mute the input audio signal in the presence of the input data signal. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor arrangement further comprises: an FSK encoder;   an FSK receiver;   a frequency synthesizer; and   a microcontroller coupled to the FSK encoder, to the FSK receiver, and to the frequency synthesizer.   
     
     
       20. A method for multimedia input and control, the method comprising: (a) receiving an input video signal;   (b) receiving an input audio signal;   (c) when an input data signal is received, modulating the input data signal to form a modulated input data signal and combining the modulated input data signal with the input video signal to form a combined video/data signal; and   (d) when an input data signal is not received, combining the input audio signal with the input video signal to form a composite audio/video signal.   
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: adjusting a transmit frequency in response to a first control signal of a plurality of control signals.   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 20, further comprising: adjusting a transmit power level in response to a second control signal of a plurality of control signals.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 20 wherein the input data signal is FSK modulated. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 20 wherein step (c) further comprises inserting the modulated data input signal into an audio subcarrier portion of the input video signal to form the combined video/data signal. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 20, further comprising: muting the input audio signal in the presence of the input data signal.   
     
     
       26. The method of claim 20, further comprising: generating an output data signal.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26 wherein the output data signal is a video display power on signal. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 26 wherein the output data signal is a video display power off signal. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 26 wherein the output data signal is a video display channel selection signal. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 26 wherein the output data signal is a video display volume control signal. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 20, wherein steps (c) and (d) are alternatingly performed to form a combined video signal having interleaved audio and data. 
     
     
       32. An apparatus for multimedia input and control, the apparatus comprising: a video camera to produce an input video signal;   a microphone to produce an input audio signal;   a radio frequency modulator coupled to the video camera and the microphone;   an infrared receiver to produce an input data signal;   an infrared transmitter to produce an output data signal; and   a processor arrangement coupled to the video camera, to the microphone, to the radio frequency modulator, to the infrared receiver and to the infrared transmitter, the processor arrangement responsive when operably coupled, through a set of program instructions, to produce a first processor signal to the radio frequency modulator to combine the input video signal with the input audio signal to form a composite audio/video signal, the processor arrangement further responsive to FSK modulate the input data signal to form an FSK modulated input data signal and produce a second processor signal to the radio frequency modulator to insert the FSK modulated input data signal into an audio subcarrier portion of the input video signal to form a combined video/data signal.   
     
     
       33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the processor arrangement is responsive to adjust a transmit frequency of the radio frequency modulator in response to a first control signal of the plurality of control signals. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the processor arrangement is responsive to adjust a transmit power level of the radio frequency modulator in response to a second control signal of the plurality of control signals. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the processor arrangement is responsive to produce an off hook signal in response to a third control signal of the plurality of control signals. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the output data signal is a video display power on signal. 
     
     
       37. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the output data signal is a video display power off signal. 
     
     
       38. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the output data signal is a video display channel selection signal. 
     
     
       39. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the output data signal is a video display volume control signal.